This microproject will fund the 2 week rentals for film equipment needed during the Autism Film Program to be used by the 50 participants and crew. There is not, as far as we know, another program that teaches a subject so thoroughly and produces such professional results. Participants will leave the class with a film credit, professional experience, and will have learned many new skills. Equipment rentals needed include lights, sound, and of course, the cameras to shoot the film.
All children have passions. Too often, children with ASD are not given the opportunity to develop their passions, much less work collaboratively to breathe life into them. Individuals with autism are often marginalized, and may only need additional instruction, or a different structure to achieve their goals.This marginalization results in missed opportunities, offered to other youngsters, including skills training useful in later life.
Participants will leave with a film credit, professional experience, and will have learned skills that will carry with them into professional, social, and academic environments. They will also experience something few ever will: they will walk a red carpet at the San Diego Film Festival, and watch a film they created, in a theater full of paying patrons, who ultimately will applaud their efforts. We hope this experience will increase self-confidence in pursuing their passion for filmmaking.
Creating a film is a monumental effort for any group, but for those with ASD, vital skills must be mastered, including cooperation, negotiation, listening, and taking direction. They will be introduced to animation, set design, script-writing, acting, prop/set building, wardrobe, make-up and budgeting. They will learn the marketable skills of filmmaking and leave with a film credit and an addition to their resume. For many, this will be their first experience of job training.